Coin contact and release relay assembly



Nov. 4, 1947. E. J. NEWCOMER ,4

COIN CONTACT AND RELEASE RELAY ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 27, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

Everafi J A/ewaomkr Patented Nov. 4, 1947 COIN CONTACT AND RELEASE RELAY ASSEMBLY Everett J. Newcomer, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assignor to City Vending Equipment Corporation, Maspeth, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 27, 1945, Serial No. 579,973

2 Claims. 1

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvements in coin controlled operating circuits for various machines, such, for instance, as vending machines, phonographs, and the like, and more particularly it is my purpose to provide an improved coin receptacle containing a switch controlled by the coin for receiving and releasing the coin, and improved means for resetting the apparatus, causing the machine mechanism to operate and stop, and otherwise control the functions of the machine. In the structure shown and described hereinfor purposes of illustration, an insulated pocket or receptacle is provided to receive the coin and which has two or more contact blades contacted by the coin to close the circuit to any type of electrically operated equipment, and which is provided with a coin release device consisting of an electromagnetic relay with a flat plate type pivoted armature to which plate an insulated plate is fixed which forms a release door or retractable wall of the coin pocket and which is urged by a spring to normally closed position so that when the relay is energized by closure of the circuit by a coin in the pocket the pole of the magnet moves th armature to open the pocket and permit the coin to pass from the pocket, thereby breaking the circuit and resetting the mechanism. Furthermore, while the relay is energized, the electrical equipment operates, and as an adjunct to my device I provide in the case of vending machines a mercury switch which upon removal of a product to be vended by the customer, breaks the circuit to reset the mechanism. In devices now in use I have found that a sharp blow may cause the machine to operate, and that contacts may become dirty or deranged or pitted or frozen or welded together, any of which interferes or stops operation of the machine or causes it to "Jack Pot or otherwise mean loss to the owner. Among the advantages of my invention on these devices are: (l) the contacts are stationary, thus eliminating possibility of freezing or sticking and the coins wipe over the contacts to keep them clean and no coins can be stolen; (2) there are no fine adjustments and the cost of manufacture, installation and service is small; (3) the contacts are large and will not Wear out and will stand up under severe use and cannot be closed by nonmetallic slugs and the like; and (4) the device can be installed in devices now in use and the apparatus is simple, sturdy and practical.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings, but it is to be understood that changes in form, size,

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shape, materials, construction and arrangement of parts and circuits may be made without departing from my broad inventive concept or the scope of the appended claims. I

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my coin pocket and switch;

Figur 2 is a side View;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designatelike or similar parts:

The numeral l designates a coin pocket which has a front wall 2 of insulating material provided with a pair of spaced, vertical slots 3 in its bottom edge through which rearwardly, angularly and downwardly inclined contact plates 4 and 5 ext/end, which plates have their front ends connected as at 6 to the front wall 2 and have conductive wire connection buttons 1 thereon. A coin delivering tube 8 extends from a suitable coin detecting mechanism (not shown) to the top of the pocket and is connected to a base wall 9. The front wall is also attached to the base Wall 9 as at It] and a reinforcing and guard rib l l is provided on the front wall. Attached to the base wall 9 is a bracket l2 having a rearwardly extending horizontal arm l3 and a vertical depending arm [4 on which is formed an upstanding leg l5. An electro-magnet I6 is attached as at H to the depending arm [4, and an armature 8 is pivoted as at 19 to the horizontal arm l3 through the instrumentality of an angularly inclined lever 20 connected by a spring 20 to the lug [5 to normally hold the armature away from the electro-magnet I6 and in a contacting position with reference to the side flanges 2| on the front wall 2 which form the sides of the pocket thereby providing a pivoted back Wall for the pocket. An insulating plate 22 is cemented or otherwise attached to the inner face of the armature. The base wall 9 may be any suitable part of the machine.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent, but it is again emphasized that interpretation of its scope should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims:

I claim:

1. A coin switch and release unit comprising a coin pocket of insulating material having an open rear Wall and vertical slots in the bottom of its front wall, contact plates having their front ends connected at the front of the front wall and extending rearwardly into the pocket and toward the open rear wall thereof whereby to support a coin entering the pocket to bridge a circuit including the contact plates, a base wall, said pocket attached to the base wall at one side thereof, a bracket connected to the opposite side of said base wall, an electro-magnet carried on the bracket, a lever forming an armature for the electro-magnet pivoted on the bracket and adapted to lie flush with the open rear wall of the pocket and adjacent the contact plates to retain the coin upon them, spring biasing means for normally retaining the lever arm in this position.

2. A coin switch and release unit as defined in claim 1 and said bracket having a rearwardly extending horizontal arm, a vertical depending arm and an upstanding leg extending upwardly from the depending arm, said electromagnet mounted on the depending arm, said armature REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,890 Wuest Jan. 1, 1898 679,026 DeKleist July 23, 1901 1,641,212 Werner Sept. 6, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,693/29 Australia Sept. 27, 1929, 

